Tullow Launches FPSO set to start operations on African Coast mid 2016

Despite the challenging economic environment for the oil and gas sector, Tullow has braved the storm and have this week launched a giant deep water vessel converted from a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) in Singapore.  The Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel named after the late Ghanaian president Prof John Evans Atta Mills will be sent to the coast of Africa to pump oil from depths of 1,000-2,000 meters.

Oil and gas firms in Tanzania form a consortium for supplier database

Two major oil and gas firms in Tanzania, BG Tanzania and Statoil Tanzania formed a consortium with AS and Achilles- a global supplier information firm- to set a common supplier prequalification system.  The system will be used as the preferred mechanism to identify and select local suppliers and service providers for opportunities emerging in oil and gas in the country.Using the new initiative, local suppliers wishing to provide services to the oil and gas industry will be offered a new route to market their expertise to the world’s biggest operators.

OFID 2016/2017 Scholarships now open

OFID scholarship is open to candidates who have obtained or are on the verge of completing their undergraduate degree and who wish to study for a Master’s degree at any accredited University around the world.

The number of scholarships available: 4

Nature of study: Masters

Scholarship value: Award will receive a scholarship of up to US$50,000. The funds will be spread over a maximum of one year, toward the completion of a Master’s degree, or its equivalent, at an accredited educational institution, starting in the autumn of the academic year 2016/2017. The scholarship covers, tuiton fees, medical insurance, monthly allowance. allowance to cover living expenses, books and accommodation and travel costs.

Why Fracking?....(Blog Series Part 2)

Fracking is the main reason as to why America is having an energy revolution. Engineers and Scientists have worked hand in hand to produce safe hydraulic fracturing practices which have minimum impact on the environment. The US is now able to tap a vast amount of oil and natural gas reserves which were once considered difficult to reach (shale locked reserves and tight rock formations), hence were deemed not economically viable. The process has also been used in stimulating production from older depleting wells. Some sources claim that >95% of natural gas wells to be drilled in the future will be done through hydraulic fracturing. In the UK, this is being considered amidst opposition from environmental pressure groups.

FRACKING THE REASON FOR AMERICAS OIL BOOM.........( Blog Series part 1)

What is Fracking?

Fracking is  the short form derived from the term hydraulic fracturing. The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.  This is a type of drilling that has been used commercially for 65 years. Thanks to major technological advances hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling , is responsible for swelling U.S. oil and natural gas production.  Since the US began intensively using  it since 2010, the oil produced has increased from 5mb/d to 9mb/d. The process is being considered in the UK and is mostly at its exploration stages having faced much opposition from environmental pressure groups.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme 2016/17 now open

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme is now open. Forms may be obtained from Agakhan Foundation or Agakhan Education Board offices. A limited number of scholarships are available for postgraduate studies to outstanding students (below 30 years of age) from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. The objective of the programme to develop effective scholars and leaders and to prepare them for employment, primarily within the AKDN.

New Zealand Development Scholarships for 2016/2017 now open

New Zealand Government is offering scholarships for post-graduate students starting full-time postgraduate degree programmes in 2016.   The New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS) are targeted at candidates from select developing countries with the aim of providing an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in specific subject areas which will assist in the development of their home country. Eligible candidates are nationals of African Commonwealth countries, Africa – non-Commonwealth countries, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean Commonwealth countries and Caribbean non-Commonwealth countries.

Gas production could boost Mozambique to one of the largest African economies

Mozambique is set to be Africa’s next biggest gas producer, joining big-wigs such as Angola and Nigeria in gas production by 2028 once its offshore natural gas , (the biggest ever discovered on the continent), reaches full production capacity as planned, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in  recent report.

BG Tanzania Post graduate Scholarships 2016 now open

The BG Tanzania International Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme in Geoscience and Engineering is now open. The scholarship is aimed at equipping Tanzanians with the relevant skills for the energy and related sectors.  The scholarship is fully funded by BG to the following Universities; Aberdeen University, Robert Gordon University, Herriot-Watt University and Cranfield University for a range of 23 courses offered within the four Universities.

Plummeting crude prices? Here is the reason why.

Source: International Energy Agency

The global crude oil prices have been plummeting for the last 1.5 years. Brent crude prices were at $110 a barrel just as recent as June 2014, a far -cry from today’s price of $30 a barrel, which was last seen in 2003.  Simply, the supply of oil exceeds the demand. The World is producing far more than is needed.

Africa Oil farms out its stake to Maersk oil

Canadian owned oil firm, Africa oil has sold half of its stake in 3 blocks to  Danish owned Maersk Oil.  Africa Oil is Tullow's  joint venture partner in Turkana’s exploration fields and co-owns the blocks on an equal basis.

The fields comprise of Blocks 10BB, 13T and 10BA in Kenya and the rift basin, south Omo blocks in Ethiopia. The farm-out is as a bid to raise some $350 million for use in further exploration and developmental costs.  The first oil discovery by the two companies was in Block 10BB in March 2012 where significant crude oil deposits have since been found in the surrounding 3 blocks .

Lowest oil price in 12 years?

The oil price has fallen to a 12 year low to $32.62. Brent crude, which is the most expensive of the crudes has sank by 4.2% and is now trading at $ 34.88 a barrel. This is the lowest it has been since July 2004.

US crude is also affected and is trading at $33.42, 3.9% below its lowest level in 2008.

The tumbling oil prices are as a result of oversupply of oil. The prices are now 70% lower than 18 months ago, which has heavily affected companies and government reliant on oil revenues.

THE US EYES KENYA'S ENERGY DEAL WORTH $18BILLION

The United States is expecting to invest in the blossoming oil and gas sector in Kenya including an export pipeline which is expected to transport crude oil from the Lokichar basin to the Lamu port.

The United States through its ambassador Bob Godec met  the newly appointed energy and petroleum cabinet secretary Charles Keter  on 5^th January 2016 whereat the pipeline was the basis of the discussions.

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineer.

A petroleum engineer is one who has studied petroleum engineering. This is an engineering field concerned with all activities in hydrocarbon production. Hydrocarbons in this case include crude oil or natural gas. Petroleum engineering aims at maximising recovery of hydrocarbons economicaly from subsurface reservoirs. However, the recovery of hydrocarbons involves the following steps.

• Exploration
• Development
• Production

The processes involved in hydrocarbon recovery are interdisciplinary as they include;

•  The geologists and geophysicists, (who perform the static description of the reservoir rock by analysis of subsurface structures using geological and geophysical methods),

• The reservoir engineer, whose aim is to optimise production of oil and gas through, proper well placement, models the productivity of the reservoir and predicts the reservoir potential with the aid of computer simulation software,

• Petroleum engineers who estimate the recoverable volume by utilising their understanding of the physical properties and behaviour of oil, water and gas within the reservoir.

• Production engineers - who manage the interface between the reservoir and the well through such tasks as perforations, sand control, artificial lift, downhole flow control and downhole monitoring equipment.

• Drilling engineers: who manage the technical aspects of drilling both production and injection wells. They work in multidisciplinary teams alongside other engineers, scientists, drilling teams and contractors.

• Facilities Engineers who ensure proper selection and design of surface equipments used in separation of the produced fluids (oil, gas and water).

The petroleum engineer is involved in nearly all the stages of exploration, development and production. They are charged with the task of economical hydrocarbon recovery with minimal environmental impact. The petroleum Engineer requires to also have a relatively good knowledge of other related disciplines such as petroleum geology, geophysics, well logging, drilling, field development economics, reservoir simulation and engineering, well engineering, artificial lift systems, completions and facilities engineering. However, the combined efforts of geologists and petroleum engineers helps in determining the way a reservoir is to be developed and depleted.